The Miracle Mask

This DIY mask, made of nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon, is calming and soothing for stressed-out skin – in addition, it smells absolutely amazing!

The secret? Nutmeg and honey act as natural anti-inflammatories, which can reduce swelling and redness in skin. They’re also great for soothing acne scars and preventing infection.In addition, the nutmeg and cinnamon also work to exfoliate your skin when you wash this mask off.

Before you begin, it’s always a good idea to do a small test with homemade mixes on your skin to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction to any ingredients. So remember to do a quick patch test on sensitive skin, like that on the inside of your wrist, before applying this mask to your face.

To create the mask, mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg. The consistency should be like a thick paste. After it’s all mixed, apply the mask to your face and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash it off with warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation.

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine and is a common problem in women. It is unfortunately one of the “secret problems” that women do not talk about because it is embarrassing and many think that the problem cannot be solved. Fortunately, the vast majority of women with incontinence can be successfully treated and many, cured.

Incontinence can be a life-altering sentence to women and has spawned a billion dollar a year incontinence pad business. Many women stay at home, or refuse to socialize for fear of embarrassment. There are several different categories of incontinence: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence and total incontinence.

Causes of Incontinence involve several different components: the pressure in the bladder, the nerves that activate and relax the bladder and the sphincter, (valve), muscles, and the sphincters themselves. Dysfunction at one or several of the points results in the different types of incontinence.

Stress Incontinence occurs associated with raising the pressure inside the abdomen by coughing, sneezing, laughing, straining or lifting or sudden movements. It is very common in women, and sometimes occurs in men after prostate surgery. Stress incontinence is caused by a decrease or loss in the sphincter, or control valve in the urethra and bladder neck.

It may be minimal, a drop or two on a rare occasion, moderate, requiring changing underwear two or three times a day, or wearing a mini pad, or severe, requiring several large pads a day. It is frequently ignored because: it is mild, “it happens as women age”, “there is nothing that can be done about it”, or it is too embarrassing to talk about. The vast majority of patients (men and women) can be cured.

The female urinary system sits in a precarious position, just in front of the vagina. As a result, it has poor support, only the vaginal wall. In addition it is subjected to repeated trauma as a result of sex, births, and weakening of the tissues as women go through menopause and lose the strength imparted to the pelvic tissues by female hormones. As a result, the bladder and urethra “fall”, leading to shortening and widening of the urethra.

Although the mechanism of continence or control of urine is very complex, the major component can easily be visualized as an old fashioned “finger trap”, made of muscle, rather than straw. In the normal anatomy, the urethra is fixed at both ends, so when the muscles contract, the urethra narrows shutting off flow of urine. When the bladder has “fallen” the upper end of the urethra is no longer fixed, so when the muscles contract, the urethra becomes shorter and wider, allowing urine to leak, especially with coughing or other forms of straining.

A second, more minor component to urinary control is the voluntary sphincter or valve muscles of the pelvic floor. These surround the urethra, vagina and rectum, and are the muscles used to “hold back” urine on a voluntary basis.

Sometimes, the bladder has unusually high pressures due to nerve or bladder muscle dysfunction. In this situation, what is an adequate valve mechanism may be overpowered. The treatment of stress incontinence is based on evaluating and treating these factors.

Urge Incontinence is present when there are sudden urges to urinate that the patient cannot control, the “mad dash syndrome”. It can be related to changes in position, such as standing up, which is known as orthostatic instability, or initiated by a cough or sneeze or other movement, but different from stress incontinence in that there is not a sudden gush of urine, but a sudden urge to go. It may come on without any provocation. A frequent cause of urge incontinence is changes in the nerves activating the urinary tract, as seen in the elderly, persons with strokes, or spinal injuries or other neurological conditions. It may be associated with a ” fallen bladder” in females, or occur without association to any other problem.

Mixed Incontinence is a combination of both stress and urge incontinence, and is usually caused by a combination of factors.

Total Incontinence is the continuous total loss of urine. There are many causes including holes in the bladder or pelvic scarring due to surgery, radiation or disease, or nerve damage from injury, disease or stroke.

It’s easy to see where you are. And the cure and treatment is no taboo or secret to your urologist.

My mail:I am 19 years old have a problem in Urgency-Frequency. For five months I had to go to the bathroom every hour. And I had gone to a several doctors and I still have the same problem. Recently I have been taking Ditropan and I did not see any change after that. I took Novepam (Bromazepam)I have become better in the home, BUT when I go out I feel very bad and cannot stay more than one hour.

Answer: The medications you describe treat symptoms. However, it is necessary to determine the true cause of the problem. You should see an urologist to determine the cause of this urgency and frequency. Possible causes include neurological problems relating to the bladder, infection, and irritation from various causes in the bladder, prostate or urethra. An urologist would do a urine test, urine culture, a pressure volume study of the bladder (cystometrogram), a look in the bladder and urethra (cystoscopy) and possibly x-ray studies of the bladder (voiding cystogram) and/or x-ray visualization of the kidneys.

10 Signs Your Girlfriend or Wife is an Emotional Bully

Does your girlfriend or wife yell, scream, and swear at you? Do you feel like you can’t talk to anyone about your relationship because they just wouldn’t understand? Is your relationship making you feel like you’re slowly going crazy?

If so, you’re probably involved with a woman who is an emotionally abusive bully. Most men don’t want to admit that they’re in an abusive relationship. They describe the relationship and their girlfriend/wife using other terms like crazy, emotional, controlling, bossy, domineering, constant conflict, or volatile. If you use words like this to describe your relationship, odds are you’re being emotionally abused.

Do you recognize any of the following behaviors?

1) Bullying. If she doesn’t get her way, there’s hell to pay. She wants to control you and resorts to emotional intimidation to do it. She uses verbal assaults and threats in order to get you to do what she wants. It makes her feel powerful to make you feel bad. People with a Narcissistic personality are often bullies.

Result: You lose your self-respect and feel outnumbered, sad, and alone. You develop a case of Stockholm Syndrome, in which you identify with the aggressor and actually defend her behavior to others.

2) Unreasonable expectations. No matter how hard you try and how much you give, it’s never enough. She expects you to drop whatever you’re doing and attend to her needs. No matter the inconvenience, she comes first. She has an endless list of demands that no one mere mortal could ever fulfill.

Common complaints include: You’re not romantic enough, you don’t spend enough time with me, you’re not sensitive enough, you’re not smart enough to figure out my needs, you’re not making enough money, you’re not FILL IN THE BLANK enough. Basically, you’re not enough, because there’s no pleasing this woman. No one will ever be enough for her, so don’t take it to heart.

Result: You’re constantly criticized because you’re not able to meet her needs and experience a sense of learned helplessness. You feel powerless and defeated because she puts you in no-win situations.

3) Verbal attacks.This is self-explanatory. She employs schoolyard name calling, pathologizing (e.g., armed with a superficial knowledge of psychology she uses diagnostic terms like labile, paranoid, narcissistic, etc. for a 50-cent version of name calling), criticizing, threatening, screaming, yelling, swearing, sarcasm, humiliation, exaggerating your flaws, and making fun of you in front of others, including your children and other people she’s not intimidated by. Verbal assault is another form of bullying, and bullies only act like this in front of those whom they don’t fear or people who let them get away with their bad behavior.

Result: Your self-confidence and sense of self-worth all but disappear. You may even begin to believe the horrible things she says to you.

4) Gaslighting. “I didn’t do that. I didn’t say that. I don’t know what you’re talking about. It wasn’t that bad. You’re imagining things. Stop making things up.” If the woman you’re involved with is prone to Borderline or Narcissistic rage episodes, in which she spirals into outer orbit, she may very well not remember things she’s said and done. However, don’t doubt your perception and memory of events. They happened and they are that bad.

Result: Her gaslighting behavior may cause you to doubt your own sanity. It’s crazy-making behavior that leaves you feeling confused, bewildered, and helpless.

5) Unpredictable responses. Round and round and round she goes. Where she’ll stop, nobody knows. She reacts differently to you on different days or at different times. For example, on Monday, it’s ok for you to Blackberry work email in front of her. On Wednesday, the same behavior is “disrespectful, insensitive, you don’t love me, you’re a self-important jerk, you’re a workaholic.” By Friday, it could be okay for you to Blackberry again.

Telling you one day that something’s alright and the next day that it’s not is emotionally abusive behavior. It’s like walking through a landmine in which the mines shift location.

Result: You’re constantly on edge, walking on eggshells, and waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is a trauma response. You’re being traumatized by her behavior. Because you can’t predict her responses, you become hypervigilant to any change in her mood or potential outburst, which leaves you in a perpetual state of anxiety and possibly fear. It’s a healthy sign to be afraid of this behavior. It’s scary. Don’t feel ashamed to admit it.

6) Constant Chaos. She’s addicted to conflict. She gets a charge from the adrenaline and drama. She may deliberately start arguments and conflict as a way to avoid intimacy, to avoid being called on her bullshit, to avoid feeling inferior or, bewilderingly, as an attempt to avoid being abandoned. She may also pick fights to keep you engaged or as a way to get you to react to her with hostility, so that she can accuse you of being abusive and she can play the victim. This maneuver is a defense mechanism called projective identification.

Result: You become emotionally punch drunk. You’re left feeling dazed and confused, not knowing which end is up. This is highly stressful because it also requires you to be hypervigilant and in a constant state of defense for incoming attacks.

7) Emotional Blackmail. She threatens to abandon you, to end the relationship, or give you the cold shoulder if you don’t play by her rules. She plays on your fears, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, shame, values, sympathy, compassion, and other “buttons” to control you and get what she wants.

Result: You feel manipulated, used, and controlled.

8 Rejection. She ignores you, won’t look at you when you’re in the same room, gives you the cold shoulder, withholds affection, withholds sex, declines or puts down your ideas, invitations, suggestions, and pushes you away when you try to be close. After she pushes you as hard and as far away as she can, she’ll try to be affectionate with you. You’re still hurting from her previous rebuff or attack and don’t respond. Then she accuses you of being cold and rejecting, which she’ll use as an excuse to push you away again in the future.

Result: You feel undesirable, unwanted, and unlovable. You believe no one else would want you and cling to this abusive woman, grateful for whatever scraps of infrequent affection she shows you.

9) Withholding affection and sex. This is another form of rejection and emotional blackmail. It’s not just about sex, it’s about withholding physical, psychological, and emotional nurturing. It includes a lack of interest in what’s important to you–your job, family, friends, hobbies, activities–and being uninvolved, emotionally detached or shut down with you.

Result: You have a transactional relationship in which you have to perform tasks, buy her things, “be nice to her,” or give into her demands in order to receive love and affection from her. You don’t feel loved and appreciated for who you are, but for what you do for her or buy her.

10) Isolating. She demands or acts in ways that cause you to distance yourself from your family, friends, or anyone that would be concerned for your well-being or a source of support. This typically involves verbally trashing your friends and family, being overtly hostile to your family and friends, or acting out and starting arguments in front of others to make it as unpleasant as possible for them to be around the two of you.

Result: This makes you completely dependent upon her. She takes away your outside sources of support and/or controls the amount of interaction you have with them. You’re left feeling trapped and alone, afraid to tell anyone what really goes on in your relationship because you don’t think they’ll believe you.

You don’t have to accept emotional abuse in your relationship. You can get help or you can end it. Most emotionally abusive women don’t want help. They don’t think they need it. They are the professional victims, bullies, narcissists, and borderlines. They’re abusive personality types and don’t know any other way to act in relationships.

Life is too short to spend one more second in this kind of relationship. If your partner won’t admit she has a problem and agree to get help, real help, then it’s in your best interest to get support, get out, and stay out.

10 FACIAL MAKEOVER SECRETS FROM BEAUTY EXPERT FOR A FLAWLESS SKIN
You can prevent and reverse the signs of aging in a natural way and there are many examples of such “tour de force”. The 10 tips for a flawless skin have been compiled from the knowledge of a vast number of beauty experts, dermatologists and beauticians from all over the world. To be sure that your facial makeover will be a real success and your skin will be smooth, soft and radiant, you need to be active both within and without. Tips 1-4 are the without part of your holistic skin care ritual. Tips 5-10 constitute the within part. Altogether, these 10 secrets are the pillars of real and lasting Beauty.

Acting from Without

Gently cleanse
Cleansing your skin is a must. It is the foundation of any skincare since dirt, pollutants and oil clog pores (which means choking your skin) and lead to breakouts and inflammation. Stay away from harsh soaps and chemical solutions which will harm your skin, throw its pH off balance and induce inflammation, leading to premature degeneration and aging. Please remember that keeping makeup on at night is one the worst thing you can do to your skin: so de-makeup before going to bed!
Gently exfoliate and de-pollute
Your skin is a living organ, not just a wrap around your body, therefore, it breathes! Would you breathe well with a towel or a bag over your face? Probably not. Same principle applies to your skin! The more you clean off dead cells, dirt, oil and pollutants, the better it breathes, the healthier it is, the more beautiful it is. This is why exfoliation is the next most important step of your facial makeover: it deeply purifies and un-pollute your skin while gently stimulating its natural renewal, suppleness, tone and vitality.

Fortify with purifying masks
Purifying masks draw out toxins, pollutants and impurities from deep inside and they help to rebalance and soothe your skin. If scientists have found DDT and other crazy pollutants in polar bears’ fat, who live pretty far from civilization, don’t you think your skin is exposed to those and other types of pollutants? You bet it is! That’s why detoxifying regularly and providing your skin with all the minerals and vitamins it needs is the best way to protect your skin and fortify it. Plus even if it only takes 5 min once or twice a week, doing a mask is taking some time off for yourself, away from the stress and worries of your life. You need this time off!
Nurture with anti-aging and protecting moisturizers
Your skin is craving for moisture, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants: nourish it well and carefully with rich and pure elements, not with chemicals, to strengthen, rejuvenate, protect and vitalize it. Keep in mind that depending upon the season and climate, your skin’s needs may vary a lot. Moisturize morning and evening after having gently cleansed your skin. Love your skin and it will love you back.

Nature Purity offers complete holistic solutions for these 4 facial makeover secrets. Have a look at these products: they contain rich natural and perfectly balanced ingredients for a radiant and toned skin.
Acting from Within
Next six secrets of your facial makeover are equally important if you want to reveal your most vibrant inner beauty. Your skin is one of your biggest organs, so gently care for it and it will reward you in the most pleasant way! Nurturing your skin from within is equally important to protecting it from without, so don’t overlook these simple and easy steps, they are crucial and fundamental to your beauty and health.

Eat well and fresh, drink plenty (of water and green tea).
Everyday, your body is losing some cells and rebuilding new ones. You build your body with what you eat and drink. Thus, if you eat junk food, you build your body with junk. Not a good idea … By choosing fresh natural and organic foods, you give your body the best elements to build itself. By drinking pure water, you ensure that the fluids in your body are pure and vibrant. Make sure that you get enough The Thrive Diet vitamins, nutrients and minerals since they are absolutely necessary for all biological processes. Have a look at our review article for B. Brazier Ironman athlete’s Thrive Diet.
As far as drinking, Green Tea has lots of extraordinary virtues; among them being a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drink as well as protecting against stroke, cancer and gum diseases. It’s also your best friend if you want to lose weight (for details see our our blog post). By any means, avoid hidden sugars and sweeteners like aspartame and don’t overindulge with alcohol.

Exercise/work out
When you exercise, you increase your cellular metabolism and respiration and also boost your blood and lymph circulation, which are fundamental to enhance oxygen and nutrients availability and waste disposal from your tissues and organs. This in turn does more for your skin than a day in a spa! Choose whatever you feel drawn to, trust your instinct and keep to your weekly routine.
Sleep
It’s well known that it’s during sleep that your mind and body regenerate the most. By cutting down on sleep, you deprive yourself of the best chance to stay young and healthy. Dr Michael Vitiello, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Washington says: “It is important for Americans to recognize that good sleep is not negotiable, rather it is a pillar of good health and function, as times get tougher, it actually becomes more important than ever to do what one can to maintain good sleep quality, as poor sleep has such an immediate impact on daily function and longer-term impact on physical health.” Since Health and Beauty are so tightly linked, good sleep also has a very crucial and deeply beneficial action on the beauty your skin.
Detoxify.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to do regular detox. Simply because your body accumulates in your tissues (including your skin!) a lot of waste due to lifestyle and exposure to thousands of chemicals everyday; some of them end up inside your body and accumulate over time. This toxic accumulation is a burden on each of your cells and may lead to skin premature aging and weight gain. By taking natural Green Clay cure, you give your cells a chance to get rid of their toxic waste. To learn more, read our article about Spring Detox.
Relax and meditate
Your brain and body need periodic resets. By being hyperactive and under stress all day long, you don’t give your body and brain a chance to do this reseting. Stress is actually the most destructive and aging contributing factor. Whether it’s your family life which is stressful, your love life, your career or all 3 altogether, you need to unwind from time to time. At first, it might not sound easy or even doable; but “where there is a will, there is a way” and it actually is and the benefits you will reap from doing this will pay off largely for the effort you put in it. Meditation is the brain’s way of breathing deeply and relaxing. A growing number of very well-known neuroscientists are now studying the beneficial effects of meditation on the brain and body and trying to find ways to help people more with meditation. Even 5 min. meditation a few times a week will give visible results so don’t deprive yourself from a chance to regenerate within and without. It costs no money and it’s powerful.
Smile!
There are scientific studies showing that when you smile without being actually happy, it induces the release of happiness hormones (endorphins), making you feel happy! So even when you’re deep into stress and hassle, if you make an effort to smile at the end of the day, it will in turn make you feel much better and prepare you for a good night sleep! Try it…

Since Beauty will save the world, as F. Dostoievsky wrote, so you can help saving it!